Lot 140: Harry Hall (1812-1888)

Harry Hall (1812-1888)
Gamester, winner of the 1859 Doncaster and Newmarket St. Legers, held by a groom, at Newmarket
signed and dated 'H. Hall. 1859.' (lower right)
oil on canvas
28 x 36 in. (71.1 x 91.4 cm.)

C. Lane, Harry Hall's Classic Winners, London, 1990, p. 59, pl. 63.

with Richard Green, London.
Anon. sale, Christie's, London, 3 May 1968, lot 7 (850 guineas to the present owner).

Gamester, owned by Sir Charles Monck and trained by John Scott, won both the Doncaster and Newmarket St. Legers in 1859. This picture records his victory at Newmarket on 28 September, only a fortnight after his win at Doncaster. Gamester is depicted on Newmarket Heath, set against the King's Gap in The Ditch and, to the right, the Ditch Stables. The unusually grand groom was presumably an assistant trainer or head lad to the aging John Scott, as he is neither the latter nor Sir Charles Monck.